Anecdotal evidence in support of fast mimicking diet


(Tim W) #1

I’ve done several fasts, up to 20 days, and have been using IF since Feb of 2016. I’ve wanted to use the fasting mimicking protocol but just haven’t gotten around to it.

Wife decided to fast Wed-Sat (she’s got a lot of experience at this as well) but I was not ready to join her as I was still recovering from a long workout and wanted to keep my intake high to aid in recovery. I had planned to join her today (friday) and fast until Sat evening.

Yesterday, I was not hungry (as many of us eating high fat have experienced) so went ahead and skipped all food until the afternoon, when I had coffee with heavy cream, then, a few hours later, had two eggs and an avocado fried in bacon grease, with salt.

Now, here is the interesting thing, I feel just the same as if I’d gone with zero intake. My head is more clear today, my energy is ok (though I woke up tired as usual when fasting, it just takes me longer to get moving) and I slept like a baby last night.

This is one single data point and I plan to play with the protocol more but for now, I’m thinking we might be able to get some/many of the physical positive aspects of fasting (clear mind, better sleep, extra energy) without going water/black coffee only. I know Longo has done research on it, I am glad to see that, for me, the science “works” in reality.


(Jane ) #2

I am interested in seeing how this works for you! I have been looking into it as well and realize some days my natural intake is very much like a fasting mimicking protocol. I just worry that if I do it too often I will end up too hypocaloric and frig with my thyroid.


(Michele) #3

I have been thinking about doing this for my next EF. Towards the end of my last EF (at the beginning of this month) on day 4 and 5 I ate macadamias. It made a huge difference to the hunger. However on day 6 I quit. I think I needed to give my exercise a rest because at the end of the 6 days I was really tired.


(Alan Williamson) #4

If you are tired, it is likely the electrolytes are low. You can put a pinch of salt on your tongue and let it melt. In minutes, you should perk up.

Usually, being tired is electrolytes are low, or a person has uric acid buildup because they are not in ketosis. That is a problem with people eating low fat, high carb then doing fasting. It might take them more than 2 days to get fully into ketosis. They end up literally spending days in the bed they are so tired. What a nightmare. I watched a youtube video of this guy who is really into fasting and he is spending 5-7 days in bed when fasting. WTH!


(Michele) #5

I did a fair bit of salt (low-salt with sodium, potassium, magnesium). Also took magnesium supplements. I had also been in ketosis for about 3 months at the time of fasting and been testing regularly with good levels of ketones. I had also been IF for a good chunk of thattime too. What ever the reasons it made for a good experiment and I will take my experience and work it in whatever way I can for the next time. I won’t know what the next experience will be like until I do it.
On another note. A few days ago I had breaded mozarella (called cheese cigars!) at our Indian restaurant (they are delicious). After two days my ketones dropped under 1.0 (0.8) and they hadn’t been that low since my fast. So last night I felt a bit off (slightly queezy is the best way to describe it) my sleepy mind said my ketones are kicking up. Shortly after that I was hot. This morning sure enough ketones up. Not sure if that was a coincidence or not, but interesting note to self.


(Tim W) #6

Sorry I have not replied to this thread lately, been a crazy couple of days.

Here’s what I found:
Day 1- Only ate one avocado and two eggs fried in bacon grease, fasting continued to feel “as usual”.
Day 2- Did not eat anything all day, by the end of the day I was lethargic and cranky (typical for me…).
Day 3- Did my usual Sat morning routine, coffee with HWC, an episode of This Old House on PBS, followed by long walk and moderate weights, all fasted, felt great (typical for me at this point).

So, the food on day 1 made it easier, for sure. Now, I’ll try one for 4-5 days, having two avocados and two eggs each day, that way I get lots of electrolytes and the cholesterol I need.


(Tim W) #7

I don’t have any experience with that other to say the wife and I have been IF for over a year (together, I’ve been IF longer) and she’s done quite a bit of fasting and her thyroid numbers are healthy, for now. I think she’s got a couple of years of recovery before she’s lost all the weight she wants to lose, heals herself fully (leaky gut etc…) and stabilizes all markers. I guess what I’m thinking is that it’s a marathon, not a sprint and there’s no harm or foul in taking a few weeks/months off from the protocol, just eating “healthy keto” and relaxing things a bit to reduce stress etc. Best of luck to you!

Good job being mindful and noting how the cheese cigars impacted you. Beer does the same for me :frowning: